Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP CON OR05’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, bright orange ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the second week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP CON OR05’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05’ is a product of a cross between the female parent ‘Sapiro Red’ (undistributed in the United States) and the male parent ‘Dark Veria’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,215). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in September 2003 in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05’ by terminal cuttings and tissue culture was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PPP CON OR05.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PPP CON OR05’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumcultivar:

-   -   1. Large bright orange inflorescence;     -   2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming         consistently after 49 days of short day length;     -   3. Free branching habit; and     -   4. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the second         week of September.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05’ are similar to plants of the female parent variety, ‘Sapiro Red,’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05’ bloom earlier than the female parent. Also, the ray florets of ‘PPP CON OR05’ are dark orange compared to the dark red of the female parent. Finally, ‘Sapiro Red’ has a weaker vigor than the new cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05.’

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05’ are similar to plants of the male parent ‘Dark Veria’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON OR05’ are taller and wider. Also, ‘PPP CON OR05’ has more inflorescences per lateral branch and bright orange ray florets compared to the yellow ray florets of the male parent. Finally, the new cultivar has more ray florets per inflorescence and a larger inflorescence diameter.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GEDI THREE PORA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,067) ‘PPP CON OR05’ is taller and has a wider plant spread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP CON OR05’ has more ray florets per inflorescence and has less inflorescence per lateral branch. Further, the ray florets of ‘PPP CON OR05’ are a brighter, more intense orange-red compared to the greyed-orange ray florets of the comparable variety ‘GEDI THREE PORA.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘PPP CON OR05’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘PPP CON OR05’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of May through September 2005. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar ‘PPP CON     OR05.’ -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 33 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 29 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 18. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 125 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 137D. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under side:             Near Green 137B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Yellow-Green 147C. Venation color under side: Near             Yellow-Green 147C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length             required to induce and develop blooms.         -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.         -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately second week in             September.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             15.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 5.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 28-34 days.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—224.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Red 46A. Upper             surface at maturity: Near Orange-Red 34B. Upper surface at             fading: Near Orange 26A. Under surface at first opening:             Near Red 46A. Under surface at maturity: Near Orange-Red             31B. Under surface at fading: Near Orange 26C. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 14.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 9B. At maturity: Near             Yellow 9A. At fading: Near Yellow-Orange 15B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 4 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 11 cm.         -   Angle to stem.Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 139C.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Form.—Globular.         -   Color.—Near Green 139D. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 25.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 5A.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154B.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Stamens.—Absent. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow 8C.         -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.         -   Anther shape.—Tubular.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow 9A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low     temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the     approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of     cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants     are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP CON OR05’ as herein illustrated and described. 